Hi there
I’m looking at purchasing one of the following Sparmax models.
I’m wondering if anyone here has opinions or experience using any of the following:
TC-501DA
TC-620
AC-500
TC-63TC
Thank you in advance
I’ve never heard of the Sparmax brand, and have no idea about the price you’re looking at. Any air compressor with a regulator will work with an air brush, and there are a lot of small compressors, some much larger than an airbrush compressor, that sell for less than $100, that can also be used to inflate tires, run small air tools, etc. These come with pressure tanks that will keep the motor from running the whole time you’re painting.
Has anybody used the small table-top compressor that Micro-Mark sells? It’s the one in a box that kind of looks like a Tech 2 power pack.
Frontline Hobbies has the Sparmax 501DA compressor for about $270 http://www.frontlinehobbies.com.au/shop/productList.aspx?categoryID=797&parentID=700&catName=COMPRESSORS
For less than half the money you can get a 2 gallon Campbell Hausfeld oilless compressor. I’ve been using one for years.
Your best bet is to get an oil-less compressor with an air storage tank. The tank will take out the pressure pulses from the piston.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90385
I’ve got a Campbell 1hp oilless and HATE it! LOUD! Annoying! Runs constantly. It lasted for about a year and the rings started going bad in the head. It’s a cheap crap throw away compressor.
I’ve never seen a professional airbrush artist use one of those overpriced tank-less units. [2c]
I didn’t buy the compressor from them, but have had similar experiences with low quality items from Harbor Freight Tools. Plus I’d be a bit cautious about an oilless compressor.
About 4 years ago, I got the Craftsman compressor for about $100. It is noisy, but for airbursh use it doesn’t run constantly, and it’s still going strong. You can still catch it on sale occasionally for under $100 at either Sears or KMart.
This compressor is similar to the one I have.
Take a look at this page.
http://www.airbrushcity.com/comp45/index.htm
I bought one from them but they no longer carry it. Mine looks pretty close to the model 2010. Very quiet, regulator, auto shutoff and having a tank makes a big difference.
I like everything but the price. I would expect a larger air tank for $150.
I’m sure the Craftsman one has a better quality head than the Campbell that I have. The Campbell piston relies on a Teflon ring for a seal and you can’t buy replacement rings. My Teflon one went bad and it is now relying on only the metal ring for a seal. Takes twice as long to charge up now.
I was pointing out that Harbor Freight compressor because it has a real 2 cylinder head on it that is probably rebuild-able. I bet it’s a lot more quit. Pretty high CFM rating for a little unit too!
Mine scares the crap out of me every time it kicks on.[:I]
Edit-I see that Craftsman unit is NOT an oilless. Looks like it has a real head on it.[tup]
You can use any compressor with a tank. Just use a water trap and adjust the pressure to 20-25 psi. Jeff
Bag the airbrush compressors all together. They are way overpriced and underpowered. Go to your home center or sears or some place like that, get a small compressor meant for driving a small nail gun. A 2 gallon (or so) tank is plenty. Put a regulator (usually comes with the compressor) and a water trap on it and you’ll still be a hundred bucks ahead.
One big advantage of the airbrush compressors is how quiet they are. I can have mine running next to me and talk on the phone. It has more than enough power for an airbrush. I’ve had it up to 70 psi with no issues.
I started custom painting back in 1989. I was doing about 5 - 10 paint jobs a week then with peaks of 30-40 just before trains shows for the first 10 years or so. I’ve tapered down to 5 - 10 a month, but most jobs now are custom builds, (the last few months has been nearly zero for family health reasons). This just to say that my equipment has had to do more hard duty than the average modeler.
I started off with a Badger airbrush compressor, it lasted a year, second a Paasche, it lasted a another year, (I would never buy another “airbrush” compressor again). It broke in the middle of a project so I went to K-mart at 2 am and bought a $40 tire-inflator with auto shut off and various plumbing parts and hooked it up to a 2 gal freon tank I had already gotten from a local refridgerator repair shop for 10 bucks and was back up and running in a couple of hours. That lasted me 2 years. I went back to K-mart got another one, it also lasted about 2 years. Then Walmart started selling the Cambell Hausefelds, I got the $89 2-gal and it lasted for about 4 years. I replaced that with $100 model and connected the two 2-gal tanks together and that’s the set up I’m still using today. The two tanks, for a total of 4 gallons, has cut the on/off cycles by over a third which I’m sure is why this one has lasted so long.
So, my conclusion, #!: If you have the $$$, go to Sears, Lowes or HD, etc. and buy one of their better nailer compressors/tanks (about $200-300). #2: The $120 Cambell Hausfeld or equivalent with an extra 2gal tank. #3: If you intend to do a lot of weathering or more than the occaisional paint job, stay away from the hobby/artist tankless compressors, especially if you’re going to use acrylics. These compressors were designed for light duty using inks and solvent paints for fine work and I don’t like the pulsing a lot do because there’s no tank. Most of them don’t come with a regulator and gauge. #4: Don’t forget to add a moisture trap, most&
I will chime in for the Craftsman. I actually went for the 2 gallon one. Its smaller and about half the weight of the three gallon one. The motor is oil lubed which helps it to remain quieter. Not quiet but quieter. Thanks to the tank, it doesnt have to run much. My wife got it for me for Christmas for about $90 I think.
If I lived in an apartment and worked at night then I would invest in one of those silent artist compressors. As it is… this one works wonderfully and can also drive a nail gun and inflate the kiddy pool although at 2.4 scfm its not going to run much else besides my air brush.
The best part was at Christmas… my dad got a bird and a tie from his wife. I got an air compressor from mine. I clearly had the better guy gift!
Chris
Unbelievable. I can’t believe you bought that piece of crap!
Ha! I’ve got that one too. I like it, although it can be rather loud but I don’t care its in the garage. I bought mine at that cheap Harbor Freight Chinese Communist tool store for about $50. What a steal!
I have an old Badger Model 10 compressor. I just sent badger an e mail about getting a manual for it. I bought it new back in the early 1970’s. The compressor works great. I do wish it had an on/off switch. You plug in the plug and it is instant on. The compressor runs until you pull the plug out of the wall. If you do a lot of spray painting the compressor does get hot (no tank). I don’t even know how much air pressure this things puts out. I probably could cut the power cord and put in an on/off switch.
I did print out the manual for their model 180-10 and 180-12. But I am not sure if they apply to my model for parts etc.